Filipino Pop-Up FOB Kitchen Will Take Over Juhu Beach Club in Oakland

After ending their tenure as the pop-up-in-residence at SF’s Gashead Tavern just last month, FOB Kitchen has already landed a permanent location Oakland. Owners Brandi and Janice Dulce will take over the space previously occupied by Juhu Beach Club in Temescal, with plans to open as soon as late spring.

During its three-year pop-up stage, FOB Kitchen amassed a loyal following for its modern interpretations of Filipino dishes, with Janice Dulce cooking from her Filipino and Bay Area roots. Now it’s growing up and into a quirky space in the Temescal Triangle, next door to Las Calacas Locas and across from an organic market. Brandi Dulce will run front-of-house at FOB’s new location, while Dulce will lead the kitchen.

Since the announcement that the Temescal restaurant space would go up for sale, chef/owner of Juhu Beach Club Preeti Mistry and wife Ann Nadeau had been looking for future owners who “would bring a strong vision for the restaurant and our community.”

“It was really meant to be,” Mistry told Eater SF. “These owners are kismet.” Mistry recently opened Navi Kitchen nearby, and will focus on that and other projects for the time being, though she says it was bittersweet to leave the space.

The transfer from Mistry and Nadeau to the Dulces is also a way to maintain the presence of female- and POC-owned businesses in a rapidly changing neighborhood, particularly those within the queer community. For Brandi and Janice, it’s also an ideal opportunity to join the growing food scene in Oakland, and embrace it as a place to nurture their family, which includes twin girls Phoenix and Sequoia.

Preeti Mistry

Within the walls of Juhu, FOB Kitchen will add its own cocktail menu, with plans for late night dining, weekend brunch, and dinner. The overall menu will remain similar to their original, but with the addition of small plates and a few other options.

“We want to make it accessible for those who aren’t familiar with the cuisine,” said Janice. “Introduce people to things they might not otherwise experience.” FOB Kitchen joins a growing number of modern Filipino dining options, including The Lumpia Company, and Pinoy Heritage.

• Filipino Pop-Up FOB Kitchen to Leave Gashead Tavern in Hunt for Permanent Location [ESF]